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Sydney - Matt Giteau concedes he will struggle to regain his place in the Wallabies starting line-up to play England on Saturday because the Test selectors could easily show faith in midfielders Quade Cooper and Berrick Barnes following Australia's triumph in Perth.
Giteau was named at inside-centre in the starting line-up at Subiaco Oval, only to be withdrawn on Friday because of a hip complaint. He remains the Wallabies' No.1 goalkicker and has been selected at No.12 in the first two Test teams of the season, but Giteau realises that everything changes when you hand the spot to someone else.
And after five-eighth Cooper and inside-centre Barnes combined with aplomb in the 27-17 first Test victory against England, Giteau understands that even though he is now fully fit, he could still miss out for the clash at ANZ Stadium. Barnes helped his cause with an exceptional defensive effort in Perth.
''With the way things are, you just got to train hard and see what happens,'' Giteau said yesterday. ''But the way they went, the back line is playing some good football, and so I'm like anyone else, I've just got to train hard and hopefully get an opportunity.''
Deciding between Barnes and Giteau at No.12 is not the selectors' only dilemma. There is also the question of who starts at halfback. Even though first-choice No.9 Will Genia is available again, it will be near impossible to drop Luke Burgess after his best performance for the Wallabies.
Giteau, an unwilling spectator, said that he had been enthused by the development of the young Australian back line, with fellow centre Rob Horne immediately acquitting himself to Test football.
''Rob's great and he offers a lot,'' Giteau said. ''He plays the way he has been playing in the Super 14, so you know he has that confidence, as with all the younger guys. Look at Quade. He's carried that form into the first couple of Tests, while Luke Burgess had one of the best games I've seen him play.''
Giteau also revealed that despite the Australian team management last week stressing he had not injured his hip during a brutal Test against Fiji, the ailment did emanate from the Canberra international.
''It first happened in the Fiji Test when I was shoulder-charged, and my legs split a little bit,'' Giteau said.
The Wallabies midfielder said he felt pain ''throughout the hip'' during the game, and it failed to improve in Perth, forcing him to withdraw. Like all the Wallabies, Giteau is anticipating Jonny Wilkinson will start as the England five-eighth this weekend.
''We're not so much preparing for it, but it won't shock us if he is named,'' Giteau said.
''He offers different things to Toby Flood, so with that comes a different game, in particularly using their big backs. I think they will make a few changes which will probably improve the way they're going to play.''
Former England hooker Brian Moore, meanwhile, believes it is time for the team's manager, Martin Johnson, to sack some of his coaches, including his defence coach Mike Ford.
In his column in London's Daily Telegraph, Moore wrote: ''In games against southern hemisphere sides, England's defence under coach Mike Ford has shipped more than 32 points per game, which is a terrible record. I have hitherto not joined the glowing clamour from fans for any specific member of the England coaching team to resign or be replaced, but enough is enough. Loyalty to colleagues is admirable but not in the face of these statistics
''Johnson has to ask himself this - if this continues are England likely to beat any of the Tri Nations sides in the World Cup when, on the balance of probabilities, that side will score 32 points, England will be slower in thought and deed and also be unable to position a win through a territorial kicking game?'
Giteau was named at inside-centre in the starting line-up at Subiaco Oval, only to be withdrawn on Friday because of a hip complaint. He remains the Wallabies' No.1 goalkicker and has been selected at No.12 in the first two Test teams of the season, but Giteau realises that everything changes when you hand the spot to someone else.
And after five-eighth Cooper and inside-centre Barnes combined with aplomb in the 27-17 first Test victory against England, Giteau understands that even though he is now fully fit, he could still miss out for the clash at ANZ Stadium. Barnes helped his cause with an exceptional defensive effort in Perth.
''With the way things are, you just got to train hard and see what happens,'' Giteau said yesterday. ''But the way they went, the back line is playing some good football, and so I'm like anyone else, I've just got to train hard and hopefully get an opportunity.''
Deciding between Barnes and Giteau at No.12 is not the selectors' only dilemma. There is also the question of who starts at halfback. Even though first-choice No.9 Will Genia is available again, it will be near impossible to drop Luke Burgess after his best performance for the Wallabies.
Giteau, an unwilling spectator, said that he had been enthused by the development of the young Australian back line, with fellow centre Rob Horne immediately acquitting himself to Test football.
''Rob's great and he offers a lot,'' Giteau said. ''He plays the way he has been playing in the Super 14, so you know he has that confidence, as with all the younger guys. Look at Quade. He's carried that form into the first couple of Tests, while Luke Burgess had one of the best games I've seen him play.''
Giteau also revealed that despite the Australian team management last week stressing he had not injured his hip during a brutal Test against Fiji, the ailment did emanate from the Canberra international.
''It first happened in the Fiji Test when I was shoulder-charged, and my legs split a little bit,'' Giteau said.
The Wallabies midfielder said he felt pain ''throughout the hip'' during the game, and it failed to improve in Perth, forcing him to withdraw. Like all the Wallabies, Giteau is anticipating Jonny Wilkinson will start as the England five-eighth this weekend.
''We're not so much preparing for it, but it won't shock us if he is named,'' Giteau said.
''He offers different things to Toby Flood, so with that comes a different game, in particularly using their big backs. I think they will make a few changes which will probably improve the way they're going to play.''
Former England hooker Brian Moore, meanwhile, believes it is time for the team's manager, Martin Johnson, to sack some of his coaches, including his defence coach Mike Ford.
In his column in London's Daily Telegraph, Moore wrote: ''In games against southern hemisphere sides, England's defence under coach Mike Ford has shipped more than 32 points per game, which is a terrible record. I have hitherto not joined the glowing clamour from fans for any specific member of the England coaching team to resign or be replaced, but enough is enough. Loyalty to colleagues is admirable but not in the face of these statistics
''Johnson has to ask himself this - if this continues are England likely to beat any of the Tri Nations sides in the World Cup when, on the balance of probabilities, that side will score 32 points, England will be slower in thought and deed and also be unable to position a win through a territorial kicking game?'
